Bucket of Blood Street. Whiskey Row. Andy Devine Avenue. Angel's Barbershop. The Jack Rabbit Trading Post. Every town has a story. But for every town along Route 66, that story becomes a chapter in a tale about America's longest small town. 

On today's episode of Coffee With Jim, the weekly program from Jim Hinckley's America, author, humorist and historian Jim Hinckley shares the fascinating and colorful story of Route 66 in the Grand Canyon State. Camel caravans, ancient pueblos, Edsel Ford, and the origins of the Dutch Route 66 Association are all a part of the colorful tapestry that is Route 66 in Arizona. 

A twisted tale. A story of inspiration. And a BIG mistake. Today's program is full of suprises. 

Eugene Jacques Bullard, the first African American fighter pilot.  Polly Cooper, heroine of the American Revolution. And, surprise, proof that Jim Hinckley is fallible. 

Every chapter in the amazing American story is a dynamic blend of visionary leadership, big dreams, conflicting ideals and standards, inspirational people, villians, grifters, and politics. What makes America unique in world history? 

On today's program we answer that question. And we made a mistake. The Taft-Hartley Act referenced in the 1956 Republican platform pertained to unions and labor laws. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 pertained to tarrifs. President Dwight D. Eisenhower referenced this act while advocating for the gradual reduction of tariffs and the renewal of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act as he was of the opinion that lowering trade barriers would strengthen alliances. 

It's a dusty desert crossroads with quite a story. It is mentioned in the song about getting your kicks on Route 66. And it has a connection to Louis Chevrolet, Hollywood history, Charles Lindbergh and even Pamela Anderson. By tapping into its amazing story Kingman is being transformed into a destination, a small town with a sense of community infused with infectious enthusiasm, 

On this episode of Coffee With Jim from Jim Hinckley's America we talk about my adopted hometown's amazing story, and how that story is being used to transform the city. It's another tale of inspiration, from road trips to historic district transformation. 

Jim Hinckley's America is a shared adventure. Do you have an adventure to share? Do you have a story of community transformation to share? Drop us a note! 

The best way to discover America is wth a road trip. And the best road trip is on Route 66. Two days or two weeks, a Route 66 adventure is almost magical. 

In this episode author Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley's America talks about a recent road trip, shares a few tips, and gives a few recommendations for motels, restaurants and attractions. Road trip inspiration, telling people where to go, and sharing America's story. It's what we do! 

Recommendations include: 

Coffee With Jim and Jim Hinckley's America is sponsored in part through listener support on Patreon. It is also made possible by RouteTrip USA, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner Gift Shop, Route 66 Navigation, and Gilligan's Route 66 Route 66 Tours. 

The Fourth of July is a holiday that allows the nation to consider our past without being stuck there. And it is an opportunity to look forward without forgetting where it came from.

Yes, it is fireworks, family, friends, music and barbecues. And yes, it is a time for reflection. Our nation's founders did not leave us with a finished product when they signed the Declaration of Independence or replaced the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution and Bill of Rights. They left us a framework, a challenge, and a goal to pursue. That has been the message shared by presidents for more than 200 years.

The history of Fourth of July celebrations is one of the most fascinating chapters in America's story. And sharing America's story is what we do at Jim Hinckley's America.  We do this with support from listeners through Patreon. We also do this with support from the folks at Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Two Lane America, RouteTrip USA, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, and Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park. 

Burbank, California is a rare urban gem. It retains a mid century California vibe and a sense of identity even though it is surrounded by the largest megalopolis in the country. On today's episode Jim Hinckley shares tips for exploring the area, and takes the listener to 1950s time capsule diners and restaurants. And he also has found a delightful neon lit mid 1950s motel that is centrally located to just about everything!

Coffee With Jim and Jim Hinckley's America is sponsored by listeners through Patreon. It is also made possible by the support of the Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Two Lane America, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, and RouteTrip USA. 

Celebrating the American story is more than fireworks and festivals. The nation’s 250th anniversary is a time for reflecting on legacy, what it means to be an an American and the future. 

For President Gerald Ford the bicentennial was an unprecendented opportunity to heal and unite the country after the tumultuous years of Vietnam, the Watergate scandal and President Nixon’s unprecedented abuse of power, and a decade of assasinations and riots. He tasked his cabinet and challenged congress to use the bicentenial as a catalyst for uniting the country. Ford saw his loss to Jimmy Carter by a mere two percent as another opportunity to bring the nation together. 

That was an act that Carter, media, and members of congress later praised for healing the nation. This was in stark contrast the election of 1876 or 2020.

Coffee With Jim is made possible through the support of listeners on Patreon. It is also made possible by Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Deanna Nelson State Farm Insurance, Two Lane America, RouteTrip USA and Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucuncari, New Mexico. 

Not many people know that the cornerstone for the American auto industry, and the U.S. highway system, is the bicycle. And not many people know that Henry Ford played a role in the establishment of Cadillac, that a tsunami of manure was resolved with electric buses, or that David Buick made his firt fortune with plumbing innovation. 

So, that is where this book would begin, the origins of the auto industry. This is a new-old-idea keeps popping into my thoughts. Like a Model T Ford pushed into a back corner of the barn for decades, there are project ideas that are shelved until there is more time to transform them into a reality. That project is Bathtubs, Birdcages & Chevrolet. 

Coffee With Jim, the Podeban edition, is where we share chapters from America's amazing story. Coffee With Jim, the Sunday morning virtual diner where we gather to talk road trips, adventure, and historic preservation, 

Jim Hinckley's America is sponsored by listeners through Patreon. It is also made possible by Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Two Lane America, RouteTrip USA, and Gilligan's Route 66 Tours.  

Dawn of a new era on Main Street. A renaissance movement is transforming towns large and small as grassroots initiatives restore vibrancy to historic business districts. Kingman, Arizona, my adopted hometown is an example of how a community can be transformed into a destination for visitors as well as for people looking for a place to open a business, to raise a family or to retire. 

Innovative projects and initiatives brought to fruition by the passionate volunteers at Kingman Main Street are a shining example of what can be accomplished with vision, with leadership, and with focus on building a sense of community and community purpose. The work of this organization and other grassroots initiatives serve as an excellent case study on how to restore an historic business district. 

Kingman Main Street - 

Kingman Tours - 

That didn't work. We were enjoying a delightful and inspiring conversation with Matt Wagner and Leslie Anne Eades that are working with Patrick O Connor and Margaret McMullan on a documentary about Joe Barr's attempt to set a non-stop cycling world record on Route 66. A brief internet outage brought the program to an abrupt end at the 29 minute mark. 

It was sort of like planning the ultimate road trip and then having the wheels fall of the bus at the end of the driveway. Still, the comments have been positive.

If you would like more information about Joe Barr's Route 66 adventure this link is for his website. Follow along on Instagram @joebarrroute66filmproject

Join us on Sunday mornings, 7:00 Arizona time for Coffee With Jim on the Jim Hinckley's America YouTube channel.